Peters



2 Sheets -Sheet 1. C. H. POND. I Electrical Indicator.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. H. POND. Electrical Indicator.

Patented Sept. 7, I880.

.1 1 2 M w m 0 4 H II III NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER H. POND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,970, dated September 7, 1880,

Application filed November 13, 1879. I

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER H. POND, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Indicators, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Electromechanical devices have heretofore been made to show in figures any number which might be sent over an electric circuit by automatic mechanism; but all such devices have employed mechanical means to move into position the figures which are to be exhibited, have been slow in their operation, complicated in construction, and not sufficiently reliable in their indications.

The object of my invention is to enable any required number or other predetermined message to be instantly exhibited in plain figures, letters, or other characters by the action of electromagnetism, and to accomplish this result by mechanism which is simple in construction and at the same time reliable and accurate in operation.

It is obvious that in an apparatus of this kind the chief desideratum is to present the required numerical or other characters as nearly as may be instantaneously, and that without exposing any other than the required characters to view during the operation.

In order to dispense with complicated mechanism, which necessarily requires delicate adjustment, and to insure great rapidity of action, I prefer to place the required numerical or other characters upon one or more drops or slides having a vertical movement. These drops may be made of card-board suitably mounted, or of any suitable thin metal, preferably the latter. When at rest and in their normal or zero position they are held in an elevated position by a detent in such a manner that they may be released by the action of an electric current upon an elect-ro-magnet, when they will instantly drop by their own weight. As the downward movement of the drops, when released, is wholly due to the action of gravity, it follows that they will in every instance fall a given distance in a given time.

In order to determine the point at which the falling drop shall be arrested for the purpose of exhibiting the required numerical or other character, I employ one or more electromagnets, preferably a number arranged in series, which are operated by an independent or secondary battery. When at rest and in their normal condition these magnets are not charged, and their armature-levers are thrown back so as to be directly in the path of the drop in its downward course. The end of each armature-lever thus forms a stop or detent and serves to arrest the movement of the drop. Hence it will be understood that I do not rely upon the action of an electro-magnet for the purpose of arresting the movement of the drop; but the distance through which the latter will fall in any particular case depends solely upon the number of detents which have previously been removed from its path by the action of the electro magnet or magnets.

By this arrangement of parts and mode of operation I avoid the necessity of any delicate or accurate adjustment, for the several electromagnets in the series are only required to be successively charged without waiting for any of them to be discharged or demagnetized, and this operation will take place much more rapidly than the drop can fall under the influence of gravity alone.

In case two or more drops are made use of I provide automaticallyacting mechanism, whereby the electric current, after having acted upon any one drop or slide, is transferred or switched over to the next sueceedin g drop in the series.

The details of the apparatus will be hereinafter more fully explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse vertical section of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, partly in section; and Fig. 3 is a theoretical plan, showing the arrangement of the electrical connections and the mode of operation of the apparatus.

The working parts of the apparatus are incloscd within a case, A A, of suitable dimensions and material. Upon an upright support, B, which is attached to the back and top of the case, are secured one or more rows of electro-magnets, E E E E E E E E E", the latter being arranged in a vertical line one above the other. In the drawings I have shown two rows or series of these magnets, having nine magnets in each row, the latter corresponding to the nine digits and the former to the units and tens, so that any number from one to ninety-nine (except the even tens, which contain a cipher) may be indicated at pleasure, as will be hereinafter explained.

The construction and arrangement of each one of these electro-magnets and its attachments will be best understood by reference to the lower one in the row shownin Fig. 1, which electro-magnet is marked E, all the others be ing similanto this one. The, armature of the magnet E is of the usual construction, and is attached to a pivoted lever, 0*, which, when in its normal position, leans against a vertical rod, D. Above the electro-magnet, and parallel to its cores, is a horizontal rod, f which is capable of sliding endwise in its supports, which latter consist of suitable apertures in the vertical support B and in the vertical slide-bar F, Figs. 1 and 3. The front end of the rod F rests against the pivoted armaturelever 6 and its rear end is notched to receive the free end of amovable pivoted circuit changer or switch, G which is capable of being turned by the horizontal movement of the rodf to make an electrical connection with either one of two contact-plates, h and 13 The pivoted armature-lever O of the electro magnet E, which is the topmost one of the row, differs from the others in that it is provided with a shoulder, a, which serves to support the number drop or slide H, which is capable of moving freely up and down upon guide-rods D D, and is bent over and downward at its upper end, so as to permit its extremity to rest upon the shoulder c, by which it is normally held suspended.

M is an electro-magnet whose armature is attached to a circuit-changing bar, K, provided with a retracting-sprin g, m. The bar K vibrates between two adjustable contactstops, N and O, and serves to direct the current of a secondary battery through whichever of the two stops it may be in contact with at any time. The whole arrangement is substantially the same as that of the ordinary telegraphic relay, except that the secondary circuit is made to pass through either of the contact-stops instead of one only, and is thus broken and closed again at each "ibration of the bar K, whether forward or backward. The uses and advantages of this part of the apparatus will be hereinafter set forth.

The number drops or slides H and H are each provided with a series of numerals from 1 to 9, commencing at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 2, the characters being the same distance apart as the pivoted levers O O O O (J O (3 0 0 for reasons which will hereinafter appear. An opening, a, in the front of the case is of such size and shape as to admit ofbut one character of each drop being visible at anyone time. When the drops are in their normal or elevated position, as in Fig. 1, no character is shown at the opening a. If preferred, however, a cipher or zero might be made to'show when the drop is in this position.

The arrangement of the electric circuits in the apparatus and the mode of its operation will be best understood by reference to the general theoretical plan in Fig. 3.

The wiresof the primary or main circuit, which extend from the transmitting-station, are seen at 1 and 2, and they form anormallyclosed electric circuit which includes the electro-magnet M, which latter, by means of its armature and circuit-changing bar, controls thecircuit of asecondary battery, P. One pole of this battery-say the positiveis connected by a wire, 3, with a spring-switch or circuitchanger, F, which is operated by and may form a part of the vertical slide-bar F. When in its normal position, as indicated by the dotted lines, the circuit-changer F touches the contact-point p, which is connected by wire 4 with the lever of the switch G. The rear contact-plate, h, of switch G is connected with the lever of the next switch of the series G and the rear contactplate, 7L2, of this with switch G and so on through the series. The front contact-plates, i i i t" i t i i, of the several switch es are connected to the coils of the corresponding electro-magnets E E E E E E E E E and thence in alternation to the contact-points and N of the circuit-changing bar K.

For example, it will be seen that the magnets E E, &c., are connected with thecontact O by means of branches leading to the wire 7, and in like manner the alternate magnets E E, 850., are connected with the contact N by branches leading to the wire 8. The second series of magnets, E E, &c'., are connected precisely in the same manner, the circuit of the wire 3 being transferred from one series of magnets to the other, when required, by the automatic movement of the switch F from p to g, which is effected by the action of the slidebar F, as hereinafter explained.

When in its normal position of rest the primary circuit 1 2 is closed and the various parts are in the position indicated by the dottedlines, thedrops H H resting upon the shoulders of the uppermost armature-lever in each series, respectively.

Suppose it is required to indicate the number 31. By means of suitable automatic machinery, the operation of which is well understood, and need not therefore be described, the primary or main circuit 1 2 at the transmitting station is broken, closed and broken again in rapid succession, and after a moments interval is closed again. Before the primary circuit is broken, the secondary circuit, which is turned onto the wire 8 at N, is broken at i i, &c.

The effect of breaking and closing the primary circuit in the manner above described is as follows: The first breaking of the pri mary circuit releases the armature of magnet M, and lever Kfalls back upon contact 0, by the action of spring at closing the secondary circuit from battcryt fB, through wire 7, magnet E. contact-plate i, switch-lever G, wire 4, circuit-changer F, returning thence by wire 3 to the battery. Magnet E instai'itly attracts its armature, drawingt'orward lever O, which, by the same motion, not only releases thedrop H, but also pushes the switch G from the contact 71 over to h by means of the sliding rod j", which last operation extends the circuit of wire 4. to switch G so that the next movement of lever K in the reverse direction, when the primary circuit closes, closes the secondary circuit through contact N, wire 8, and magnet E". This, in turn, actuates magnet E which in the same manner changes switch G and these successive inovei'nents take place so rapidly that the three armature-lexers 0, C and G are successively drawn out of the path of the descending slide II more rapidly than it can fall after its release by the unassisted action of gravity. The short pause which takes place after the second breakin theprimary circuit allows the extremity of the drop H to strike against the end of the sliding rod 1', as seenin Fig. 3, by which the downward movement of the drop is arrested at that point and the numeral 3 is exhibited through the opening at a in front of the case. The blow of the drop H upon the end of." the rod f pulls down the movable slide-bar F, through which it passes, and this, by means of the attached switch F, changes the secondary circuit from the 0011- tact p to q, and consequently transfers the circuit to the second series of magnets, after which a single closure of the primary circuit, acting in the same manner as before, will allow the drop H to fall one division until stopped by the rod/" Thus it will be seen that the rods f f &c., serve as stops for the descend ing drop, and that the distance through which it will fall in any case will depend solely upon the number of these stops which have been removed from its path. The drop, when released, falls almost instantaneously until at rested at the desired point, and consequently no other character than the particular one to be exhibited can be distinguished by the eye.

It is obvious that the same principle of action may be extended to any required number of drops, so as to indicate large numbers, or convey any required kind of information, by means of appropriate characters.

In order to restore every part of the apparatus to its normal position afteran indication has been given, as above explained, I provide a device which I term a set-rack, which consists of a vertical movable rectangular frame having two upright bars, one of which is situated in the rear of each row of slide-rods, as seen at It in Fig. 1.

row of curved elastic pushers, r r, is secured to the upright bar It, and when the latter is pushed upward by means of the button T and rod 5 these pushers bear against the ends of such of the slide-rodsff &c., as may have been displaced, and thus restore them, together with their accompai'iying armaturelevers and circuit-changers, to their normal position.

The switch F is replaced by virtue of its own elasticity when the drop H is raised and its weight removed from theslide-bar F.

The minor details of the apparatus may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the number-drops may be replaced by circular disks or dials, and they may be operated by the power of a spring instead of gravity.

The action of electromagnetism may be employed to move the detents or stops into the path of the drop instead of out ofit, and modifications maybe made which will enable the result to be accomplished by the aid of a less number of electroana-giiets.

I consider the arrangement I have described herein as the most simple and effective which I have yet been able to devise for the purpose of carrying out the object of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a visual indicator, one or moredrops or slides provided with a series of numerical or other characters arranged and operated substantiallyas described, so that a drop, when released by the withdrawal of a detent by the action of an electro-magnet, will instantly traverse the space between said detent and a second detent or stop which normally rests in the path of the drop, and exhibit the character corresponding to the last'named detcut without exposing any of the intervening characters upon the drop, as set forth.

2. In a visual indicator, a drop or slide provided with a series of numerical or other characters, in combination with a series of stops or detents controlled by electromagnetism, and normally resting in the path of said drop or slide, and mechanism for making and breaking an electric circuit in such manner as to withdraw any required number of said stops from the path of the drop, so as to determine the distance through which the latter is to move, substantially as described.

3. In a visual indicator, two or more electromagnets arranged in series, in combination with stops or detents and with circuitchangers, the latter being so constructed and arranged that whenever any one of said electro-magnets is traversed by an electric current, and thereby made to attract its armature, the movement of said armature will act to transfer the electric current from its own electro-magnet to the next one in the series, but upon another circuit, substantially as specitied.

4. In a visual indicator, two or more drops or slides, each provided with a series of numerical or other characters, said drops being arranged in consecutive series and theirmovements controlled by electromagnetism, in combination with one or more circuit-changers so constructed and arranged that at the instant of the completion of the movement of any one slide in the series the actuating-current shall be automatically transferred from its own controlling or actuating electro magnet or magnets to the corresponding electro magnet or magnets of the next succeeding drop of the series, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a "isual indicator, a relay whose armature or circuit-closing bar closes an electrio circuit either by its forward or backward movement, in combination with a drop or slide provided with a series of numerical or other characters, and stops or detents controlled by electromagnetism, substantially as specified.

6. A series of two or more electro-magnets, included in a secondary circuit and controlling the progressive movement of a visual indicator, in combination with a circuit-closing bar arranged to complete said circuit either through its front or back contact-stop, in combination with an clectro-magnet included in a primary circuit and acting to control the movements of said bar, substantially as specifled.

7. In avisual indicator, two or more electromagnets placed in series and controlling stops or detents, in combination with circuitehangers automatically operated by the movement of the armatures of said electro-magnets, and a circuit-closing bar vibrating between two contactpoints, with which latter the several electro-magnets in the series are alternately connected, when arranged substantially as described, so that the to-and-fro movements of the circuit-breaking bar will act, in connection with the circuit-changers, to transfer the electric current successively from one electromagnet to another of the series, as set forth.

8. In a visual indicator, an electro-magnet whose armature or lever shall close a secondary circuit by the opening or the closing of the primary circuit at the sending-station, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of November, A. D. 1879.

CHESTER H. POND.

Witnesses WILL FRAZER, WVM. ARNOUX. 

